Laurie R

Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com

Latest posts by Laurie

Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 10/23/2022 - 9:06am

Join a magical trip on the Polar Express powered by the Morristown & Erie Railway. Photo courtesy of the railway

Every year Polar Express train rides come to New Jersey, with the Garden State's railroads decked out in their holiday best. We know it's a bit early to start hauling out the holly, but these Polar Express trains and Christmas trains are a popular holiday tradition, and they sell out fast!

Though these Christmas trains don't go all the way to the North Pole, most include a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with treats, caroling, movies, and stories. We've even included a trolley ride hosted by Mrs. Claus herself. Read on to find out where to take a Christmas train ride near New Jersey with Santa, and book your tickets as soon as possible.

If you're already thinking about other must-do activities this holiday season, be sure to check out our rundown of the most spectacular holiday light displays in New Jersey and other tips in our Guide to Christmas and Holiday Events in NJ for Families.

Not-So-Scary Halloween Events in New Jersey for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 10/16/2022 - 9:50am

The Liberty Science Center loves Halloween so much that they decided to celebrate all throughout October! Photo courtesy of LSC

Looking for the best Halloween events in New Jersey for toddlers and preschoolers? Read on for our top picks.

Little ones love nothing more than dressing up and collecting goodies on Halloween. New Jersey offers plenty of safe, not-too-scary Halloween celebrations perfect for the preschool set. From trunk or treats to over-the-top events at amusement parks and zoo celebrations, these safe activities let toddlers experience the magic of Halloween. Good news for parents: Many of them are FREE!

Read on for dozens of fun and preschool-friendly Halloween events in New Jersey, plus a couple of extra-special events just over the border in Pennsylvania. You can find even more seasonal events in our Guide to New Jersey Fall Fun and Guide to Halloween Events in New Jersey.

30+ Free Halloween Events and Parades in New Jersey for Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 10/07/2022 - 6:51am

Jenkinson's Boo at the Boardwalk offers some admission-free fun. Photo courtesy of Jenkinson's

There are no tricks here, instead, we've got a special treat: More than 30 FREE Halloween events and parades in New Jersey. The weeks leading up to Halloween are full of festivals, costume parades, and plenty more opportunities for ghosts and goblins to dress up and score some scary-good treats.

Read on for our top picks, and be sure to bookmark our Halloween Fun Guide for even more seasonal fun. From pumpkin picking and corn mazes to harvest festivals and Halloween train rides, we've got you covered with fun things to do during this spooky season. Happy Halloween, New Jersey!

Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in New Jersey: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Wed, 10/05/2022 - 6:35am

There's fun indoors and out during the Liberty Science Center's Fall Fest, including the return of the Spider Maze. Photo courtesy of LSC

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this Indigenous Peoples Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this long weekend.

Indigenous Peoples Day, Monday, October 10, marks the holiday formerly known as Columbus Day for NJ school kids, and luckily our calendar is jam-packed with three days of fall fun activities. Get immersed in the fall season at outdoor festivals, including LBI Fly International Kite Festival, Holland Ridge Farm's Family Fun Columbus Day Weekend, and local harvest festivals in Dunellen and Newton. Plus, get a taste of Halloween with the kickoff of Track or Treat at Meadowlands Racetrack and Halloween Party at Liberty Science Center.

Be sure to bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for more great things to do.

And don't miss your chance to win! Mommy Poppins is sponsoring a pretty amazing giveaway: The grand-prize winner will get a 2 night all-inclusive trip for 2 adults and 2 children (including airfare from the continental US, food, & beverages) to Velas Vallarta family resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Enter to win our Family Fun Resort Getaway.

Trunk-or-Treats in New Jersey for Halloween 2022

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 10/04/2022 - 6:47am

UMC of Red Bank welcomes families to its annual Trunk-or-Treat party in the back parking lot of their building. Photo courtesy of UMC

For a safer alternative to trick-or-treating, New Jersey kids can collect goodies at a variety of family-friendly trunk-or-treat events. Instead of wandering door-to-door, young trick-or-treaters can load up their Halloween bags with candy from decorated cars.

These trunk-or-treats—most of which are FREE—take place in parking lots, parks, and on blocked-off streets. They sometimes include parades, costume contests, and other Halloween activities. Another bonus for sugar-crazed kids: Many of these trunk-or-treats take place before Halloween. That means double the loot if you make your plans right!

For more boo-tiful Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Guide for New Jersey Families, which includes our picks for The Best Halloween Events in New Jersey for Families in 2022 and more.

Free in October: 55+ Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 10/02/2022 - 1:32pm

Meet fireman, police officers, and EMTs at Mission Gratitude's Touch-A-Truck event. Photo courtesy Pediatric Dental Associates of Randolph

No tricks here, just treats: We've rounded up more than 55 FREE events for NJ kids and families in October. Save your money for candy and costumes, and load up on dozens of no-cost events every day of the month. Food, crafts, and fall fun are on tap at harvest festivals, including the Dunellen HarvestFest and Hoboken Harvest Festival, plus community fairs like Scotch Plains Day and Seton Hall Weekend.

October comes to a close with the main event of the season: Halloween. Throw on those costumes and head over to FREE celebrations, including trunk-or-treats in Wildwood and Glassboro and annual favorites like Cape May's Boo at the Zoo.

Read on for this month's gratis picks! For more FREE and low-cost fun, check out our Family Activity Calendar, as well as our Fall Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids and H alloween Events and Guide for NJ Kids.

Best of October: 20 Top Things To Do in New Jersey this Month

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 09/30/2022 - 6:26am

Six Flags Fright Fest offers plenty of kid-friendly fun during the daylight hours. Photo courtesy of Six Flags

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means New Jersey is alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and of course trick-or-treating—so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

Harvest and Halloween happenings provide an abundance of treats for a busy October. This month is jam-packed with fun fall activities and awesome things to do in New Jersey. Our top picks include harvest festivals throughout New Jersey. Find Halloween theme park excitement at Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest and Storybook Land's T rick-or-Treat. Or, join local seasonal celebrations like Westfield's Addamsfest and Cranford's Scarecrow Stroll. Families can also gather goodies at trick-or-treat events like Boo at the Zoo.

Don't miss even more October fun with our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide, New Jersey Halloween Guide, and our constantly-updated Family Activity Calendar.

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

The Best Halloween Events in New Jersey for Families in 2022

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 09/25/2022 - 7:34am

Celebrate Brick or Treat at Legoland. Photo courtesy of Legoland

Spooktacular news, New Jersey: Halloween 2022 is on its way, bringing with it a slew of family-friendly Halloween events! Grab your calendars, and start plotting your seasonal frights. From over-the-top fun at theme parks like Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest to animal-centric celebrations like Cape May's Boo at the Zoo, here are the best Halloween activities in New Jersey for kids and families.

Be sure to bookmark this post, as we plan to update it throughout the month with all the upcoming must-do events. And check out our Guide to Halloween Events in New Jersey and New Jersey Fall Fun Guide for even more thrills.